Pediatric Pneumococcal Disease Serotype Distribution - Surveillance Studies in Saudi Arabia

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Competitive grant program supporting surveillance studies addressing pneumococcal disease epidemiology in pediatric populations in Saudi Arabia to document disease burden and evolving serotype distribution in the post-vaccination era.

Overview

  • Funding up to $400,000 USD (includes direct costs, institutional overhead capped at 28%, and indirect costs)
  • Maximum project length of 3 years
  • Projects costing higher than $400,000 may be considered case-by-case
  • Focus on surveillance methods (prospective or bidirectional cohort) for pneumococcal disease in children under 5 years
  • Priority given to studies with definitive publication plans in peer-reviewed journals or conference presentations

Priority Areas

  • Invasive and Non-Invasive Disease Surveillance: Serotype distribution studies in pediatric population less than 5 years of age using samples from sterile sites (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid) and middle ear specimens from ear tube placement or eardrum rupture. Sample sources should be obtained between 2023 through end of 2029
  • Genetic Evolution Studies: Tracking genetic evolution of pneumococci following immunization programs with PCV
  • Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance: Antibiotic sensitivity information of S. pneumoniae in children less than 5 years of age
  • Advanced Diagnostics Integration: Studies focusing on integration of advanced diagnostic techniques and understanding local pneumococcal serotype distribution, including conventional (Quellung) or molecular (PCR or whole genome sequencing) serotyping methods

Eligibility & Requirements

  • Principal Investigator and institution must be based in Saudi Arabia
  • PI must have medical or postdoctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent), advanced nursing degree (BSN with MS/PhD), or pharmacy degree
  • PI must be employee or contractor of requesting organization
  • Only organizations eligible to receive grants (individuals or medical practice groups not eligible)
  • Multicenter collaboration encouraged; all institutions must have relevant role with requesting organization having key role
  • Organization must be legally able to receive award funding directly from Pfizer International LLC
  • Proposals must be based on: (1) retrospective serotyping data analysis from records, and/or (2) serotyping of laboratory samples currently under cold storage, and/or (3) prospective surveillance of IPD and non-IPD with serotyping
  • Proposal must include costs for serotyping (reagents) and/or third-party laboratory contracting costs
  • Submission must include brief description of intended statistical analysis stratified by age, gender, vaccination history, clinical source, clinical presentation, or antibiotic resistance
  • Cannot be submitted for study already commenced that was not originally supported by Pfizer
  • Proposal must be single-spaced, Calibri 12-point font, 1-inch margins, with 15-page limit exclusive of references

Timeline

  • April 1, 2026: RFP Release Date
  • June 1, 2026: Application Deadline (23:59 EST)
  • September 2026: Anticipated Grant Award Notification
  • November 2026: Anticipated Project Start Date
  • October 2029: Anticipated Project End Date

 

How to Submit

  • Visit www.cybergrants.com/pfizer/Research and sign in (first-time users click "Create your password")
  • Click "Start A New Research Grant Application" button
  • For "Competitive Grant?" select "Yes"
  • Select Primary Area of Interest: VAV - Pneumococcal - RES
  • Select Competitive Grant Program Name: 2026 VAC KSA Pneumococcal Disease in Children RES
  • Upload proposal in Proposal/Protocol field addressing: Goals and Objectives, Assessment of Need, Target Audience, Project Design and Methods, Innovation, Evaluation and Outcomes, Anticipated Project Timeline, Additional Information, Organization Detail, Budget Detail
  • Complete all required sections of online application
  • For technical difficulties, use "Technical Questions" link at bottom of cybergrants page
  • For RFP questions, contact Grant Officer Neha Singhal (GlobalMedicalGrants@pfizer.com) with subject line "Pediatric Pneumococcal Disease and Serotype Distribution: Surveillance Studies in Saudi Arabia – 1APR2026"

 

Please note: Full RFP is attached in the "More Information" section of this page. Faculty and researchers interested in applying for these opportunities based on technologies developed or disclosed at Vanderbilt must submit their proposals through the CTTC.